SAEDNEWS: When a male goldsmith interacts with an unrelated female customer, the ruling on putting a bangle on her wrist depends on whether it involves prohibited touching or looking. If doing so requires forbidden physical contact or an impermissible gaze, it is not allowed, unless no such prohibited touching or looking occurs.
According to Saednews, In everyday life, interaction between unrelated men and women in social and professional settings is often unavoidable. One of the more sensitive situations involves a male goldsmith assisting an unrelated female customer. Buying and selling gold—especially bracelets—may require putting a bracelet on, removing it, or measuring it around the wrist. This raises an important religious question: What is the Islamic ruling on a non-mahram man putting a bracelet on a woman? Can a male goldsmith put a bracelet on or remove it from an unrelated female customer, even if both are wearing gloves?
The brief jurisprudential answer is: If the act involves prohibited touching or prohibited looking, it is not permissible.
Suppose a woman visits a jewelry store to purchase or repair a bracelet. To measure the bracelet, put on a new one, or remove an old one, the male goldsmith may need to handle her hand. This raises the central question: Is such an action permissible?
According to the stated ruling, the main consideration is whether the action involves prohibited touching or looking. If no gloves are used, direct skin-to-skin contact with the hand of a non-mahram woman would generally occur, which constitutes prohibited touching. In such a case, putting the bracelet on her hand is not permissible. Even without direct skin contact, holding the hand, wrist, or fingers may commonly be considered touching and therefore subject to the same prohibition.
Many people ask whether the religious concern is resolved if both the male goldsmith and the female customer wear gloves. Gloves may eliminate one factor—the direct contact between the skin of the two individuals. However, the ruling is not limited to skin-to-skin contact. Several points should be considered:
Prohibited looking: If the goldsmith has to look at the woman's hand or wrist while putting on the bracelet, this may constitute prohibited looking. However, according to some views, looking at the hand or wrist without desire or inappropriate intent may not necessarily be prohibited. This is not a universal ruling and may differ according to the opinion of the individual's religious authority.
Indirect touching: Some Islamic jurists may consider touching through an intermediary, such as gloves, problematic if it is regarded as touching according to customary understanding. Therefore, simply wearing gloves does not automatically guarantee that the action is permissible.
Intent and fear of falling into sin: If the interaction creates a genuine concern of falling into a prohibited act or becoming a means toward one, it should be avoided. The principle of preventing potential harm or wrongdoing may apply in such circumstances.
Therefore, regarding the question “Is it permissible if gloves are worn?”, the answer is: If the action does not involve prohibited touching or looking, it is permissible in itself. However, if it does involve either, wearing gloves does not make it permissible.
Many senior Islamic jurists emphasize the same basic criteria: whether the interaction involves prohibited touching or looking. Some have stated that:
If putting a bracelet on a non-mahram woman's hand requires touching her hand, it is not permissible.
If gloves are worn and there is no direct skin contact, it may be permissible provided that there is no prohibited looking.
Some authorities recommend obligatory precaution in avoiding the practice altogether except in cases of necessity.
Therefore, for a precise religious ruling, individuals should refer to the fatwa of their own marjaʿ al-taqlid (religious authority).
